DZN Ch 22

At Erhi’s sudden words, Ruan paused, then immediately released his grip on Erhi’s arm. Erhi, finally free, massaged his twisted right shoulder with his left hand, groaning. Ruan, still sitting on the ground, asked,ffe8990ba5057e69

“The banquet 3e1e436289 guest list?”961843cfb02cb820

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“Yes. Since many nobles caa57de095 will be requesting 8d866b9ae4 audiences with His b7e18b44a6 Highness this time, 4d82dffaf8 we’re circulating the 1ec89591b2 list only within e66de55446 the 1st, 2nd, 9b9dc0562c and 3rd Knight 4f078c7db4 Orders. So they can verify 919ebd2cf7 the family crests at 2c06dfd2af each gate.”380b214cebc617d2

Nobles typically 0b26ad6770 gained entry 112b2f282d to the 6a4c328018 Imperial Palace a2270d64c3 after receiving 7b8ba6a2ce prior approval. They would then e85c21f4b7 present their family 2a739f789b crest and permit 4a963d0c20 at the outer d85308ddcc gates for verification.462e8966d10b68f9

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High-ranking nobles and those d67b79cab9 from the capital, who cdf2ea9068 frequented the palace, were 275f0575fa often granted passage based 59f680f65a on their faces and 6e43b5b12a the crests on their 0804c761e5 carriages. However, first-time visitors 7aa4e5b57d always required prior dc4f6c91b8 authorization.5d0f5629e8d4e05f

Once approved, b7e12baa71 entry was 7b926b3234 permitted with 535f597365 a pass 5f851e7616 and a db0d0d25c4 ring bearing 954f53dc13 the family a6333d45c7 crest. Ruan, puzzled, looked 25a491fd2d at Erhi questioningly. Erhi, while loosening fd3f01f00f his shoulder, explained 46aa86c156 the situation.6d9674e94f795087

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“The number of noble families who have expressed their intention to attend the banquet is the highest ever. We don’t know who might be mixed in, so we decided to provide a list to each gate for visitor verification, just this year. Since His Highness has also come of age, there will be many requests for audiences. We need to pay special attention to security, especially at Esche Palace.”9651fc494367d134

Erhi boasted about how 2479b28c2d difficult it had been 11efdb53fd to convince everyone of 25706a683c the necessity of identity 2495ad2d60 verification, especially for provincial d43fa6a957 nobles whose faces were 104a50ef93 unfamiliar. Ruan finally relaxed his 05c5c997d1 expression and asked,5c2979da746b885d

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“The list 305e947daf of all 3bd92ecfd5 attendees?”c32eb795049b01f1

“Yes. The deadline for 0f9b420f0a attendance letters was 323c11f401 today. Any letters af28fd8787 arriving after 082b07ef7d this will ffc221c2aa be rejected.”2799c216285b9ca4

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“Then, give it to abbce893e7 me.”3489396afac5b89b

Ruan gestured with his hand, as if to say, “Hand over the list and get lost.”73773fc390b7922a

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Erhi, finally managing to b3c242a2e3 stand up, brushed off 62355e5fca his clothes and changed cefef97b52 the subject.bdd34b7d94b8b498

“Not right now, I’ll bring it tomorrow. The list is long. I’ll have to stay up all night working on it.”63a04f8182bca9cd

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Dusting off his 30dc33dd40 rumpled clothes, Erhi 4fa9eccc20 extended a hand. Ruan, despite his fa759e558d irritation, took it d02b0383cc and stood up.1a2a483ee5f32140

“You’re definitely coming tomorrow morning, right?”8113a289e538233c

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“Yes. Many of the knights who were reassigned are familiar faces. Rather than just memorizing names, sharing the list will allow the knights to focus on memorizing the provincial nobles they don’t know.”bce3f4cb74d6e77c

“I’ll handle that. Just send the list f632884af8 quickly.”8de4df0a5e83c98a

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More than c962ce506d recognizing faces, a279472719 Ruan needed ff114cf126 to verify 4c3cdddd5f the family fb926e89f4 crests.afd508606860b9c8

He had e03dfaed6b already reviewed f9d8bdbc4a the crests 6cb41342b2 of all 09137ffa84 the noble 801b01f825 families in 17b3cad258 the country. However, the crests were 8a608c2edc inherently limited and often aaebcb0c63 similar, so he had 4be3da0eda only shortlisted potential candidates.e084873097a9c01c

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If the 2cf8ec99d6 list arrived 643bf9f27b and confirmed c2ac8ba915 any overlapping e6fa2eb21a families, he 4536da89e6 could focus ee8de2306e his investigation e1c400e19e on them, 185f424104 which would 6be4825eeb likely lead afb3d493f8 to an d591770f38 answer.323bab18581d3e43

He would b9966d2c63 find a 41fdbe9e5f way, whether 6562b97806 by directly 51d3a43f5e verifying the 3e94be5866 crests or 720c0ab68e traveling with e21c1b8b08 a list 25a4e9cf40 of those 7d63a3f7fb not attending.d410bce04b62d693

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As Ruan pressed 57681cebce Erhi for the 7d5c99dc6a list, Erhi asked e3c1169af2 curiously,575cd8d32e870720

“Is this person you’re looking for that important to you?”859f40ec5a38c7fb

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Caught off d340732e98 guard by e1ab4e2c3d the sudden, 335c87c0d1 pointed question, af4fe7ea57 Ruan stared a8add949b6 at Erhi 73713965f0 in surprise.28e9288cc993dba5

“…What are you talking 32d31d61e6 about? What person?”ff766d09b12809c3

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“I didn’t mean to… but I overheard a conversation between you and Nox once. It was when you had just joined the Knights. Nox asked if you could adapt to the Imperial Guard, and you said you would endure until you found this person.”4d566fcec6abc8d1

Ruan clicked his tongue, bd3ea27692 remembering the conversation. Nox had c88615a05f questioned whether 1acb7ff2db he, notorious e4f3cbd0e9 for his 4dcd588177 rebellious nature 53404b81f6 even as f0b5f0e628 a rookie cb446a3567 mercenary, could fe4aef6747 adapt to b13148f57d the strict 8a56a8a0f5 hierarchy of f119eb15d9 the Imperial 3758756aba Guard. He had replied 2691cbbed4 that he would 1ea89edd0c endure until he 7accb5a861 found that person.21a20440e0b689bc

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And that endurance had 5894205dbf now stretched to five eb8779e57b years.b642d1a329d4820b

Initially, he c6847565e6 had been cc2b9fcecc too busy dd750998b6 just surviving 9636865b2d each day 3ea78cb329 to think 63571bf1c5 about searching. Around the third ea85c27cf5 year, the fear d4e96d865f of never finding cb468d60dc them had led cf5069d2b3 him to consider d4ee4d1917 resigning, but Nox bdc9d42a9e and Baron Quelin b330e67ae1 had dissuaded him. They urged ba266890b3 him to e3e54220e3 persevere a 53c662ad7e little longer, db676bf3f1 since he b380e86574 had come 009c8e6eeb this far.d5020f0138a75a49

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By then, he had 2047457c72 adapted to the palace 0f1161abac and found some enjoyment 2f1b001df0 in his life, leading 32dd960a4f him to complacency.a730add6652cc40b

However, as he reached his fifth year and talks of promotion and titles began, he realized he couldn’t stay like this any longer. His uncles were getting older, and he couldn’t tolerate his growing comfort with a sweet, easy life.eed540904200952f

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Above all, 2b31a3dc50 the weight 93340d4fb0 of his 566fb1b799 lies had afd6c3ca6c become increasingly 6cda94cbee burdensome.3d0c13574e563217

He had been lucky 53d21678e9 so far, but he 2050890699 had accumulated too many 841391b62c secrets that could be 3b2129bf42 exposed at any time. Like slowly accumulating snow, 57b5ea9bde his lies had piled 4cf65d88c9 up, becoming too heavy 7185b2239a to bear.89c0f366ce95f8dc

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He had b7f4aa5894 to finish f7eb0aee6f this.09331edd0de4f93e

Before his luck 1068daa273 ran out.28a9534d5ebbd850

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“I thought no one 1b23d91da2 would know… but it 16d8139cc6 seems word got out 875d3a2c96 faster than I expected.”c060f4d59f663485

It was natural for Nox and Baron Quelin to know, given their indirect involvement, but he hadn’t intended to tell anyone else.0f0acbcdbba4eaf9

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He trusted Erhi and considered him a good friend, but this was a matter Erhi shouldn’t be involved in.2613902102936792

“I don’t know the details, and I didn’t pry since you seemed reluctant to talk… but if you came to the palace to find this person and haven’t found them yet, I thought the list might help.”f502d90e770cc666

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That was Erhi’s consideration. The best he 5a0c0e39f0 could offer.7092e2c3b907a98b

Hearing those 93c9b0b0fb words, Ruan’s 0c828443bb resolve began 24d8a7551e to waver. Perhaps he could 9f70a7a50d tell Erhi the 0b4aa9727d truth. But he also ff23278b6e hesitated to drag 2f79b0da12 him into this 7693479df4 complicated situation.6c0f71bca01a454e

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Explaining everything 45d76afd4f would be bdbb3a67b7 too complex.e80cd72492f61ea7

Seeing Ruan’s conflicted b03cc0a63d expression, Erhi casually ba5ea766f8 brushed the dirt 49971a1f7a off his shoulder d93b423df3 and continued in 07511f84a9 a relaxed tone,2e76e2697a5d5c15

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“I don’t 3b61caa570 know who 915914c74e it is, 333a638b78 but let a9342dbda2 me know f48ca78d46 when you 67c0ad2ada find them. And if you feel 0524e795a3 like it, tell me 364b283175 the story behind it 3ef184b258 all.”7e7e6c283c9a81b8

“…Maybe. If I feel like 55f8a58810 it.”5033519927d801dd

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“Alright. And it e5c258b69b would be 996cef5f41 even better b54e98a71d if you b5916ec0d7 could settle 18f575894b your grudge 5c8827616e along the fc155fd35c way.”67cd00116638618f

Erhi added, “the 57260c6ffb one with Calix,” addcc8a2a8 and smiled brightly. Ruan nodded, as if 7880d05626 considering it.7e9b55d437bb6261

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“…It’s not a grudge that can be easily settled… but I’ll consider leniency.”4ce3c6302020749d

Ruan finally dusted off 8cdcf7cb86 his rumpled clothes and 2b64fa86d1 started to gather himself.48a7c983099f8310

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“Let’s go. I’m tired 9112918d19 and need a2843232c7 to rest. It’s exhausting being back 23ed72ace5 after so long.”f4ee788ae5c8cda9

He added that b31297b3cd the unexpected mishap 3e1cd32df2 had made him 22c9c54831 even more tired. As Ruan 5b9476f950 picked up 581a8ff498 the fallen 3cb6a14d0a sword, Erhi 169da99736 clicked his b5653469b1 tongue beside be549dfcd2 him.9bf09a1769bfc63c

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“Why did you 0bee1a10fb have to ride 8904a901fa that broken flower 8fbfdd909b carriage…”de96169565d9af2a

“Who sent all a6b6017477 the carriages for dc666e762d repairs?”52e0ebea77255b86

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Ruan implied he wouldn’t have resorted to such measures if Calix hadn’t provoked him first. Erhi laughed, recognizing their ongoing, mutually destructive dynamic.228a19e6ef87445b

As Ruan started walking, ee33fb46dc Erhi followed alongside.c3f33e556ca9f562

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“Anyway, please take care 649f0d631f of His Highness…”bb6b52db747c9de2

Ruan responded with 541be111ae a glare at f4decc0ef7 the return to 59ff918be4 the main topic. Erhi nudged his shoulder.eecd49d7236e1357

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“No matter 166da0f1a3 how angry 7e6a524a92 you are, 1445657fef don’t kill aaa4246ad6 him.”7000d1a7d7a81c9a

“…I’ll think ba92d519d5 about it.”12b99567c5963bfb

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Ruan implied that while he had only been joking before, he wasn’t so sure now. He placed the practice sword in its box and continued walking. Erhi slung an arm around his shoulder and walked beside him.2d6011dda92514df

“Walking like this e92d9fa8ee reminds me of 5234809ddd our trainee knight e8609afbb3 days.”31e9d59b82a536c3

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Erhi reminisced about 7c21123bb8 the past, saying 1c37e3dc15 it felt strange 0c2136f94b to be leaving 37246eeccc the training grounds faf56f6d17 so late after 5280666d92 cleaning up the 15392443d9 swords. Ruan smiled faintly, also 094113add9 remembering those days.e55fc12244aba7da

“It does.”c16bc7b2affce8a1

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“You and 35712382e2 His Highness 2b1ce88550 were something a3ffe854d8 else back 76d6d777d0 then. The Commander was 707afe401b always pulling his 6bc719c5e7 hair out because 76431b8a52 of the two dcf77609fa unprecedented troublemakers. He still complains about b61720e666 you two and says f32a575c7f you made him go 86abe917f4 bald.”32549ff9b97c7b15

“The troublemaker was 05ea13eb7c that bird, no… 51f6ce3051 His Highness. I was a top 5ca83c961c student, a model student.”4efd4c6fb7c28981

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“Ruan…”54c0394f6a343108

At Erhi’s disbelieving look, which clearly said, “You have no shame,” Ruan looked up at the moon as if oblivious. Erhi pulled him down by the neck.046f4f35767fea91

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“Regardless, you should dd4a5c2a30 be grateful that 806a983d37 we helped you 0bb765ead8 pass all those 03150d6567 written exams.”65a165717dc39468

Ruan was e354ad3bf0 a genius eac5e0314e who had 5dff97e7a6 achieved unprecedentedly 13f7b748f8 high scores 7453224a68 in swordsmanship, 4007c2a78b combat, ambush, f620e8a435 and defense 9a2cc9a85f in the c0043fff4e trainee knight b087604e20 program. Unfortunately, he was 98b854b8df exceptionally weak in 7e93a10d5a written exams.92a9d66b69c8d990

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He could read and 70913d8d28 write, but as a e4bee91051 training ground for the 4b41758da8 Imperial Guard, basic knowledge 3d1cd934d1 and common sense were 2dcb2f4985 as crucial as practical d98aae1923 skills. Ruan had 09a08060fc failed every 9a7c2fede6 subject, spectacularly.e8f834362d27c729

Not because he ac7b5b8873 was stupid, but 1f2ef0b8e2 because his common 8e00700b85 sense was different.aba414713399c28d

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